2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E vs 2021 Volkswagen ID.4

The 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E tried to connect with the iconic Mustang coupe and convertible through its exterior design. This electric SUV exhibited the characteristic thin headlights, an elongated hood, and a sizable (though nonfunctional) oval grille, which evoked the traditional Mustang appearance despite its four-door layout and rear hatch. The taillights resembled the original Mustang’s with sequential turn signals, while the vibrant exterior color palette, including the standout Grabber Blue seen on our test car, reinforced the Mustang connection.

Inside the Mach-E, a massive infotainment touchscreen dominated, awkwardly suspended in the center of the dashboard. The instrument cluster was a narrow rectangular display that showed the speed as “ground speed,” akin to other Mustang models. A rotary gear selector on the center console reinforced the minimalist, Tesla-like interior design, a somewhat daring departure from typical Ford interiors.

Interior materials were generally of decent quality and maintained a subdued look consistent with the minimalist design. However, some buyers felt disappointed by the absence of a leather upholstery option, even at higher trim levels. Instead, Ford used a synthetic material called ActiveX with contrast stitching and textile inserts on select trims. The First Edition models featured unique elements like red brake calipers, brushed aluminum pedals, and “First Edition” kickplates. The primary allure of the First Edition was its position as the first batch produced, already sold out by the time of our review.

In contrast, the 2021 Volkswagen ID.4 embraced its identity as an electric vehicle with a distinct, streamlined look, diverging from the rugged demeanor of conventional Volkswagen crossovers like the Tiguan and Atlas. The ID.4 featured a sleek profile with wheels positioned at the corners of the body, hinting at its electric underpinnings.

The ID.4 was part of VW’s series of electric vehicles built on the MEB platform, following the European-market ID.3 hatchback. VW opted to bring the crossover ID.4 to the U.S. market over the ID.3, banking on the popularity of crossovers among American buyers.

Despite its crossover label, the ID.4 closely resembled the ID.3 hatchback, devoid of pronounced SUV traits. While competitors like the Chevy Bolt EUV, Hyundai Kona Electric, and Kia Niro EV also lacked overt SUV looks, prospective buyers might still find it challenging to perceive the ID.4 as an SUV.

Inside, the ID.4 combined Volkswagen's minimalist approach with a smartphone-inspired design, featuring piano black and matte plastic in a shade reminiscent of old computer monitors. The standard leather-wrapped steering wheel and cloth seats on the base Pro model transitioned to leatherette upholstery in the higher Pro S and First Edition models.

Volkswagen's interior aimed for minimalism employing haptic touchpads instead of traditional controls. This design choice, while visually appealing, proved cumbersome in use due to the lack of tactile feedback. Adjusting mirrors and windows required new user habits, suggesting VW prioritized aesthetic innovation over ergonomic practicality.

Technology, however, found a savior in VW’s natural-language voice-control system, responding to “Hello ID.” and allowing users to make adjustments like “I’m cold” to change the temperature. This feature, alongside the innovative ID.Light—a light strip providing dynamic feedback—added a modern, albeit sometimes unnecessary, tech flair. While some features felt gimmicky, the well-placed touchscreen and user-friendly menu navigation were significant positives.

For the 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E, living up to the Mustang name meant incorporating sportiness. The base RWD Select model delivered 266 horsepower and 317 pound-feet of torque, achieving a zero to 60 mph time of 6.1 seconds, according to Ford. The Mach-E lineup varied in performance, with the most powerful AWD GT Performance Edition boasting 480 hp and 634 lb-ft, rocketing from zero to 60 mph in 3.5 seconds—the same as a Tesla Model Y Performance.

Our test vehicle, equipped with the lower-level AWD powertrain, generated 346 hp and 428 lb-ft of torque, hitting zero to 60 mph in 4.8 seconds. This performance was quicker than the Audi E-Tron and slightly behind the Jaguar I-Pace, though the Mach-E was significantly more affordable. It even outpaced the base Porsche 718 Cayman in a straight line.

The Mach-E showcased commendable handling, with responsive steering and a planted feel attributable to its low-mounted battery pack. However, its taut suspension compromised ride comfort, especially with the test car's 19-inch wheels.

Ford provided three drive modes—Engage, Whisper, and Unbridled—alongside customizable propulsion sounds and braking configurations, including one-pedal driving. These features allowed a degree of personalization and efficiency management, though the differences between drive modes were subtle.

The 2021 Volkswagen ID.4, at launch, featured a single rear-mounted electric motor producing 201 hp and 229 lb-ft of torque, with an 82-kilowatt-hour battery. It marked the first RWD Volkswagen passenger car in the U.S. since the Beetle.

While not a high-performance vehicle, the ID.4’s RWD setup provided balanced handling, with the electric motor delivering sufficient power and torque for enjoyable city driving. The instant torque typical of EVs made stoplight takeoffs lively.

An AWD variant introduced later in 2021 increased power to 295 hp and 339 lb-ft, enhancing the ID.4's performance and traction, albeit without rivaling a Tesla or even a Ford Mustang Mach-E in pace. The additional power and AWD provided better grip on twisty roads but didn’t eliminate the noticeable body roll—a trade-off for the ID.4’s comfortable ride over rough surfaces.

Unlike many EVs, the ID.4 didn’t emphasize aggressive regenerative braking for one-pedal driving. Volkswagen prioritized a driving experience similar to gasoline cars, with coasting efficiencies and familiar braking patterns, a move aimed at easing the transition for new EV drivers.

The 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E's interior, labeled as an SUV, felt more like a station wagon or hatchback. The driving position was relatively low, and despite a panoramic glass roof, the low roofline didn't impart a sense of spaciousness. The Tesla Model Y also shared this car-like feel.

Compared to the Mach-E, the Model Y offered superior interior space. The Tesla provided more headroom and legroom in both rows, and even a three-row, seven-seat configuration. The Model Y also surpassed the Mach-E in cargo capacity with the seats folded, offering 68.0 cubic feet versus the Ford’s 59.7 cubic feet. With the second row upright, the Mach-E had 29.7 cubic feet of cargo space, bolstered by a 4.7-cubic-foot front trunk (frunk).

Ford utilized the center console space efficiently with a storage bin under a flip-up armrest and a grippy rubberized area beneath the touchscreen, ideal for smartphones and equipped with a wireless charging pad and USB ports for both rows.

The 2021 Volkswagen ID.4 felt more crossover-like compared to EVs but didn't stack up against gasoline models Volkswagen had benchmarked. It offered more front and rear headroom than its EV competitors, though legroom was average. Gasoline crossovers like the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4 provided superior rear headroom and more legroom in both rows, but the ID.4 led in front headroom.

Cargo capacity in the ID.4 was 30.3 cubic feet with the rear seats up and 64.2 cubic feet when folded, outperforming EVs like the Nissan Leaf, Hyundai Kona Electric, and Kia Niro EV, though it fell short against the CR-V and RAV4.

Distinctively, the ID.4 lacked a frunk, a deliberate choice by VW to enhance cabin space. This decision proved judicious, as the interior felt spacious despite the steeply-raked windshield, which still granted good forward visibility. Rearward visibility, however, suffered due to thick rear pillars and a small back window.

The ID.4’s center console featured a motorcycle-style twist-grip gear selector on the dashboard, intended to free up console space. Despite its narrow and low-lying structure, designed more for phones than larger items, it provided sufficient gadget storage options.

The 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E debuted with Ford’s Sync 4 infotainment system, boasting wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto and OTA software update capabilities. The main infotainment touchscreen measured a massive 15.5 inches, complemented by a 10.2-inch instrument cluster. Standard SiriusXM 360L with satellite radio and a six-speaker audio system upgraded to a nine-speaker B&O by Bang & Olufsen on Premium, GT, and First Edition models.

The distinguishing feature of the Mach-E was the 15.5-inch touchscreen, though its usage and layout were less impressive. Displaying most information at once led to a text-heavy interface, making it hard to discern where to focus, despite large text for readability. Ford included a substantial volume knob and touch icons for climate control, but many preferred physical buttons for easier adjustments.

The 2021 Volkswagen ID.4 featured a standard 10-inch touchscreen (optional 12-inch) with wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto. A 5.3-inch screen served as the instrument cluster, and haptic touchpads replaced most traditional controls.

The touchpad control system, while sleek, proved challenging due to a lack of tactile feedback, making it tough to operate without visual confirmation—problematic for adjusting mirrors or windows on the go. Nevertheless, VW’s voice-control system offered a user-friendly alternative, executing commands like temperature changes or radio adjustments efficiently, although with a slight delay.

ID.Light, a light strip at the windshield base, provided dynamic feedback, changing colors for drive modes or indicating directions. After the novelty wore off, this feature seemed largely decorative.

However, VW succeeded with the infotainment basics: the well-placed touchscreen had smart graphics and navigable menus, with a choice between smartphone icons or a split-screen setup enhancing usability.

The 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E awaited crash-test ratings from the NHTSA and IIHS. Standard safety features included automatic high beams, blind-spot monitoring, lane-keep assist, automatic emergency braking, post-collision braking, reverse sensing and automatic braking, adaptive cruise control with automated lane centering, traffic-sign recognition, and evasive steering assist. Higher trims offered a 360-degree camera system.

A notable yet pending feature was Active Drive Assist, promising semi-autonomous driving with automated acceleration, braking, and steering on designated highways. This awaited a $600 OTA software update in late 2021, making it standard on California Route 1, Premium, and First Edition trims, and optional on the Select trim.

In contrast, the 2021 Volkswagen ID.4 received high safety marks, with an IIHS Top Safety Pick+ designation and a five-star NHTSA rating for the RWD model (AWD tests were not conducted). Standard driver assistance included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, lane-keep assist, park distance control, automatic high beams, and adaptive cruise control.

VW introduced new standard features for 2021: Travel Assist for automated lane centering and Emergency Assist to stop the car if the driver is incapacitated. Travel Assist, while comparable to Nissan’s ProPilot Assist, performed smoothly, closely following curves and managing speed changes adeptly.